The funding comes from the utility’s Blue Sky program, which has provided $10 million for clean energy projects since 2006. Pacific Power selects projects annually through a competitive process. The program has added more than 8 MW of renewable capacity to the grid in Oregon, Washington and California.

Selected projects can receive funding for as much as 100 percent of their capital costs. The amount offered changes from year to year and varies by project. The utility determines how much each project receives based on several factors, among them the number and type of applications and the outcome of the evaluations.

Projects must be non-residential, locally owned, generate less than 10 MW, and located in Pacific Power’s service territory. They also must be completed by Dec. 31, 2018.

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Pacific Power prefers proposals that target underserved populations, contribute to community resiliency and emergency preparedness, educate and engage the public, and use local labor and materials. Proposals have an edge, too, if they are from customers or communities that already participate in Blue Sky.

The utility requires that projects use electronic monitoring systems to collect inverter energy production data for at least five years. The monitoring system must include a production history electronic database and a public web link to be added to Pacific Power’s website for educational purposes.

Applications are due September 29 and winners will be notified in February 2018.

Eligibility requirements, project qualifications and application forms are available at pacificpower.net/blueskyfunds. A list of previously funded projects is available on Pacific Power’s website.

Elisa Wood is the chief editor of MicrogridKnowledge.com. She has been writing about energy for more than two decades for top industry publications. Her work also has been picked up by CNN, the New York Times, Reuters, the Wall Street Journal Online and the Washington Post.

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